Santee Cooper stripers - The Hull Truth

Eyehooker · 01-10-2006, 11:15 PM

Was going down in Jan-- guide called and said no stripers --- where are the stripers

Bailey Boat · 01-11-2006, 07:28 AM

Still in summer patterns, check the river channel bends mainly on the inside edge that have long sloping areas leading away from the deeper water. Freeline herring or jig with plastics, get back to me..................

reel trick · 01-12-2006, 03:07 PM

The stripers were doing pretty good right before christmas, don;t know about now though.

Eyehooker · 01-15-2006, 01:21 PM

Thanks for replies-- guide called said action picking up a little however he is down at the present time-- may just go with cat fishing--- Never fished for strippers in Santee-- however have got some in Ohio River but will not eat!!!

tprice · 01-15-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Eyehooker - 1/15/2006 12:21 PM

Thanks for replies-- guide called said action picking up a little however he is down at the present time-- may just go with cat fishing--- Never fished for strippers in Santee-- however have got some in Ohio River but will not eat!!!

While Santee is a good striper lake it seems that it has become more of a catfish haven. Everyone I hear talks about going to Santee for the big cats.
If you are looking for stripers you may want to try lake Murray in Columbia, great striper fishing there

Reeldanger · 01-21-2006, 01:52 PM

Stripers are still in Santee, both Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, the lower lake , has good populations of them! I fished that area for 30 years and never failed to catch them, with January on Lake Marion being one of the best months for schooling activities! Any Santee guide that tells me that he can't put me on any Stripers in January is surely lacking something!
Go to Lane's Shopping Center off highway 260 out of Manning SC and seek out Don Drose! He is a Santee guide,,has lived on that lake all his life, was born there, his Dad was a guide and proprietor on that Lake!
I am not drumming up business for Don Drose, but he is simple the best for guiding on Lake Marion bar none, for years I have seen the man in action and he has had thousands of satisfied customers over the years! Sometimes the fish just do not bite,,but I will assure you,,if a Striper can be caught on any given day on Lake Marion,, Don Drose will put you on them!
Lane's is right before you get to Wyboo creek on the right as you approach the Lake. Any local can direct you to it,,,good luck!

Santee vip · 01-21-2006, 05:58 PM

I live on lake Marion and believe me the stripers aren't here this year. For the first time in many, many years I have not seen 1
school. Even the cats are slow this year.

tprice · 01-21-2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Santee vip - 1/21/2006 4:58 PM

I live on lake Marion and believe me the stripers aren't here this year. For the first time in many, many years I have not seen 1
school. Even the cats are slow this year.

Wasn't there some type of fish die off or problem last year on Santee or was it blown out of proportion by the media??

Santee vip · 01-22-2006, 12:23 AM

No big fish kill that I know of, Lake levels and where they flow the water is the main problem. There are several ways to let water out of the lakes if Santee-Cooper runs the water down the cooper river in the spring it brings the stripers back up. This year most of the water went down the diversion canal and we didn't get the stripers. The guides who have been here many years say this is the main problem.

Reeldanger · 01-22-2006, 04:53 PM

Well Santee vip,,I surely envy you,,living on Lake Marion,,and yes I know things change on the lakes at times, sorry to hear about the Striper fishing! I lived in SC for 37 years and miss that state and the Santee lakes,,sure wish I was back there!
We moved to NC about 3 1\2 years ago, its our home state but we have family to look after since we retired! Maybe one day,,hopefully not too long in the future we can move back to SC!
Back in the 70's we experienced some of the lowest water that I ever saw in the Santee Lakes,but it did not affect catching the Stripers there, I guess all good things go bad or come to an end someday, but I hope that isn't the case!
The Santee Cooper Authority isn't in the fishing business, they generate power! Many people said years ago when they cut the new canal back into the old Santee River that fishing would not be as good in Santee in the coming years,,maybe they were right!
Take care,,hope the fishing improves soon for all of you down that way!!

Eyehooker · 04-19-2006, 11:28 PM

Has anything changed--- All I heard this winter is NO STRIPPERS--- When 1 time for cats--- okey lots of Blues--- Is anything hitting in MAY or shoud I go to the Shore--- Thanks for any Info